Before we take a look at spectroscopy, lets first have a look at what light is. Light, as we know, is only a small part of a larger Electro-Magnetic (EM) spectrum.

A diagram of the EM spectrum

For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the visible wavelengths only.

Spectroscopy

Animation of the dispersion of light as it travels through a triangular prism

Way back in 40AD, Seneca observed the light scattering properties of glass prisms but it wasn't until 1666 when Newton observed his own spectra that the idea of light being made of colours became popular. In 1802 the English chemist William Hyde Wollaston observed dark lines (absorption lines) in the spectrum from a glass prism. Later in 1814 German physicist Joseph von Fraunhofer independently rediscovered the lines and began a systematic study and careful measurement of the wavelength of these features. In all, he mapped over 570 lines and designated the principal features with the letters A through K, and weaker lines with other letters.

Hydrogen absorption lines in the visible spectrum

If you were to observe the Sun's spectrum through a prism you may be able to see dark lines as shown in the diagram above. These are called Fraunhofer lines or absorption lines.

In 1859 Gustav Robert Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen showed that each chemical element has a unique "signature" of emission lines, and deduced that the dark lines in the solar spectrum were caused by absorption by those elements in the upper layers of the sun. Some of the observed features are also caused by absorption of oxygen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere.

They did this by looking at the spectrum emitted by elements as they burn. In this example, Hydrogen will be burnt. By viewing hydrogen as it burns through a spectrometer a different set of lines will be observed - emission lines.

Emission lines of Hydrogen

As you can see, the emission lines from hydrogen match the absorption lines from the Sun's spectrum. Kirchhoff and Bunsen deduced that the Sun's upper atmosphere must be absorbing these wavelengths due to the presence of Hydrogen. Their experiment involved looking at the spectra of the Sun as it passes through a hot gas (from the Bunsen burner) and comparing it with the spectra emitted by heating different elements. It was during the process of developing spectroscopy that the Bunsen burner came into being.

The Kirchhoff-Bunsen Experiment

In all, there are over 1000 Fraunhofer lines observable in the Sun's spectrum and because each element has its own signature, we can deduce the chemical composition of the Sun, or any unknown object by analysing the spectral lines.

What causes these lines?

electron-levels

Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged, electrons are negative, and neutrons have no charge (electrically neutral). Danish physicist Niels Bohr devised a model of the atom which helps explain absorption and emission lines. In his model, protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, the electrons orbit the nucleus. In the Bohr model electrons are only allowed to orbit at certain distances from the nucleus, much in the same way as planets can only orbit the sun at certain distances. The further away from the nucleus, the more energy is needed. Each of these "distances" is called an energy level. Electrons can move between energy levels, but it does require an exchange of energy.

When we discuss the energy of a photon we can also talk about the wavelength since the two are related. The energy required is determined by the energy difference between the two levels and is different for every energy level and every element. Combining elements into molecules also changes the energy requirements.

The energy (E) of a photon (in Joules) is given by the formula:

Equation 29 - Energy of a Photon

Where h is the Planck constant (6.624 x 10-34 joule-sec) and the frequency (f) is a function of wavelength (λ). Frequency is given by the formula below:

Equation 30 - Frequency of Light

Where c is the speed of light (3x108 ms-1) and λ it's wavelength in hertz.

For an electron to move to a higher energy level it must gain energy. One way is to absorb a photon having the right amount of energy. When the electron absorbs the photon the corresponding wavelength appears to be missing from the spectrum because it has been absorbed.

When electrons move to a lower energy level it releases the same amount of energy. This causes an emission line.

Energy levels are generally noted as n, the first energy level being n = 2 (n = 1 for the nucleus). A jump from n = 2 to n = 3 requires an absorption of energy, while moving from n = 3 to n = 2 releases it.

Going back to our hydrogen example, when it gains energy from a photon in the sun an electron makes the jump from n = 2 to n = 3 and an absorption line is formed. In this case light of 656.3nm (red). When we heat hydrogen in a burner we actually excite the electron with energy, then it releases it again. As the electron returns to n = 2 it emits the same amount of energy and we see an emission at 656.3nm.

Electrons can jump from n = 2 to n = 3, or to n = 4, 5 and so on. The amount of energy required is summarised in the table below for hydrogen. This is also known as the Balmer Series.

Transition of n

3→

4→2

5→2

6→2

7→2

8→2

9→2

∞→2

Name

H-α

H-β

H-γ

H-δ

H-ε

H-ζ

H-η

Wavelength (nm)

656.3

486.1

434.1

410.2

397.0

388.9

383.5

364.6

Color

Red

Blue-green

Violet

Violet

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet

Each different element has it's own unique energy levels and when an elemental atom is combined in a molecule the energy levels again change. Because of this, we can use spectroscopy to identify almost any element or compound.

Tutorial Series

This post is part of the series Solar Physics. Use the links below to advance to the next tutorial in the couse, or go back and see the previous in the tutorial series.

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About the Author

Tim Trott

Tim Trott is a creative photographer, traveller, astronomer and software engineer with a passion for self-growth and a desire for personal challenge.

Hi, I'm Tim Trott. I'm a creative photographer, traveller, astronomer and software engineer with a passion for self-growth and a desire for personal challenge.

This is my website, a place for me to share my experiences, knowledge and photography. I love to help people by writing articles and tutorials about my hobbies that I'm most passionate about. I hope you enjoy reading my articles as much as I enjoy writing them.